Rising Stars of the Profession 2021: Juan Patino

Juan's peers note that his commitment to client service, collaboration, and quality outcomes is top-of-class. Over the last three years and in a variety of roles, he has produced outstanding results for one of the firm's most important client relationships. While daily responsibilities include project intake, business case documentation, resource management, and overall program health, Juan is seen as a go-to problem solver.

He played a key role in Summus Group's new IT Transformation market offering. He drove more than $5M in IT-related pipeline, built the integration framework to leverage 3rd party vendors, and helped recruit and align key lieutenants to support this new business vertical. Recently, Juan was responsible for the firm's Knowledge Management function including collateral management, proposals, case studies, and project delivery tools. Juan is the career advisor for five junior associates, helping align individual career ambitions to client needs and company goals.

For the community, Juan volunteers with LaAmistad, a non-profit group providing Latino children afterschool tutoring and enrichment activities. LaAmistad's mission – helping Latino families guide their children educationally to enable their success and life-long self-sufficiency – really hit home. It reminded Juan of his own family upon arrival to the U.S., eager to take on the opportunities of a new country but lost on where to start. LaAmistad helps ease the transition and provides resources and tools to adapt. Pre-pandemic, Juan was active in tutoring children after school and plans to re-engage next school year.

When asked about the biggest factor in his success to date, Juan notes. "While it's tough to pinpoint a single factor, the trust that my leaders and mentors have placed in me has to be at the top. From day one at Summus Group, I've been encouraged to take on leadership roles and help grow the firm both internally and externally even when I wasn't quite ready. With trust and support, I've been able to continuously tap into my potential and grow both personally and professionally. In a recent example, I was asked to stand up a new partner integration model supporting one of our most important client relationships. In this role, I needed to work together with a new 3rd party partner specializing in full-stack technology development. Summus would work in partnership with the 3rd party to deliver end-to-end project services supporting the client's merger integration work that had to be completed in 2021. I took point in establishing the processes, governance, cadence, routines, and quality checkpoints to recruit, select, and onboard more than 30 project roles in around 60 days. Trust is continuously earned, and I do my part by demonstrating genuine passion and care for the client mission regardless of complexity."

"I really enjoy finding creative ways to make a positive impact on my clients' lives. I find the daily grind of consulting worth the effort when I clearly witness the impact my actions have on my client's well-being (e.g., better work-life balance)."

Regarding his proudest achievement, Juan says, "My parents' American Dream was not a two-story house with a white picket fence. Instead, their dream involved education for me and my younger brother so that we might have greater personal and professional opportunities than those available in Colombia, South America, where we were born and raised. With that background and as I reflect on this question, my college graduation shines on top of any other achievement. To me, graduating from college helped fulfill my parents' dream for us, and their sacrifices including country, career, friends, and family had a payoff. Even though this achievement is in the distant past, it means the most to me because of what it meant to my family. To take this one step further, the rigor of college helped prepare me for the life of consulting, and any success I've enjoyed can be shared with my professors who challenged me to be my best in and out of the classroom."

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

During my childhood, my parents encouraged my brother and me with the phrase "pa' lante," which is Colombian Spanish slang for "para adelante" meaning to drive forward or to keep pushing. For as long as I can remember, my parents encouraged us with this phase to help provide motivation, perspective, and energy. When things turn challenging at work, I remember their words and they fuel my drive and resiliency. "Pa' lante" has particularly stuck with me because my parents lived the phrase and provided witness. Within a new world, their constant perseverance, adaptation, grit, and ability to provide for my brother and me are unmatched. In a relevant application of the phase, I've worked hard to build up the Summus Consulting Practice over the past three years. Last year, I took on the responsibility to standardize all the firm's case studies and client qualifications from the previous seven years. While it took more than 3 months with a couple of false starts, I helped the team achieve the right outcomes, and we're in the process of migrating more than 65 case studies to the target state standard supporting a $20M company poised for even greater growth. My parents showed me how to push forward with an open mind and a positive attitude at the toughest of times. "Pa 'lante mijo (mi hijo, my son)" as mom and dad would say, reminds me to continuously reach for new heights with gratitude for every opportunity.